Feed-control mechanism



Jan. 24, 1928.

1,657,037 D. w. RIPLEY FEED CONTROL MECHANISM Filed June 27, 1927 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 "I J5 fl J0 /jQ/ 9112 6v u: f 7

Jan. 24, 1928. 1,657,037 D. W. RIPLEY FEED CONTROL MECHANISM Filed June 27, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 24, 1928. 1,657,037

D. w. RIPLEY FEED CONTROL MECHANIS M Filed June 27, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 @Lcg 6- 66 6o 67 Q 68 65 61 $8 627 68 61 67 Patented Jan. 24, 1928. v

UNITED stares 1,657,037 PATENT? OFFICE...

DAVID W. RIPLEY, or FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO SUN-MAID RAISIN GROWERS on CALIFORNIA, QF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.

rnnn-cou'rnor. MECHANISM.

Application filed June 27, 1927. Serial No. 201,945.

My devicerelates to a feed control. mechanism, and more specifically to a device which automatically controls the feedlng of merchandise through a discharge opening.-

It is commonly known that in packaging merchandise by automatic means it is advisable-to have a uniform and constant, flow of the merchandise'into the carton filler, and. that in packaging some kinds of 111.61%

chandise,such as raisins, partly because of their sticky exterior, it is impossibleunder the present: state of the art to secure such constant and uniform flow required for packaging. The object I have attained. is

the combination of merchandise feeding, stopping and starting mechanism which functions-so that when there is a congestion of merchandise at or near the discharge opening, or when the flow is above a predetermined amount at the point of discharge, the feeding of merchandise from the SGUI'CG of supply will be reduced, delayed or stopped, and when the congestion is released and the flow is lessened below the predetermined amount, the flow of such merchandisc will increase, or resume. This function of the device is especially desirable in connection with automatic weighing and packaging of raisins, andsimilar products,

10 and when such merchandise is being treated or processed, and a uniform stream is neces- These and other objects hereinafter set forth are accomplished by means of the de- 35. vice hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the completed device. Fig. 2 is a modified form of the hopper. Fig. 3 shows the regulating gate,

or baflle gate, in a different position than shown in; Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 show modified forms of my device. Fig. 6 shows a disengaged catch used on the form illustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a front view of the sliding door or gate. I

In Figure 1, 4: is a hopper or bin containing the merchandise which it is desired to convey in a uniform stream through chute 5.. At the lower end of chute 5 is a disw charge box 6 having a baffle gate 7 therein.

In the drawing the gate is shown as approximately the width of the inside of the box 6. The gate is pivoted at the top so that it can have a vertical swing inside of box 6, and is adapted to partially close the discharge opening-in thebottom. of the hopper through which the merchandise passes.

In the form of feeding device shown in. Fig. 1, I. construct a roller 8 which is positioned in outlet opening 32 in hopper 4:. 0c The roller may form the bottom of the hopper 4:. As it rotates it carries with it the merchandise upon the upper surface of the periphery of the roller to the line of descent where the merchandise will drop off. 65. Chute 5 is positioned so that whensaid merchandise drops from the roller it falls into the chute from whence gravity carries it to. discharge box 6; Chute 5 may be any desired. length and insteadof a separate discharge-box 6,. such box may be substituted by the discharge end of said chute.

Roller I 8 has ratchet wheel 9 attached thereto concentric with the roller, said: roller and ratchet being attached to shaft: 10, and adapted to turn therewith. Pawl' support 11 is connected with shaft 10, and adapted to rock radially thereon. This pawl support carries a pawl 12 which is pivotally attached to the pawl support and is positioned so that is normally held in en gagement with ratchet 9 by means of a spring 13. It will be noted that by moving the pawl support upward and downward, pawl 12 will engage ratchet 9 on the clownward movement and intermittently actuate the roller 8 so that it rotates in the; direction shown by arrow 42. To move pawl 12 upwardly for engagement with the ratchet, I have rockingly connected an actuating arm 15 on shaft 10 so that it likewise has a radial movement concentric with the movement of pawl support 11.v An engaging latch let is attached integral to pawl support 11, which latch is positioned in the line of travel of an extension 16 on actuating arm 15 so that when actuating arm 15 moves upwardly, the extension 16 engages latch 14 and moves pawl support 11 upwardly so that pawl, 12 can receive a new engagement. with ratchet 9. Actuating arm 15 moves downward independently of the pawl support.

The downward movement of pawl support 11 is functioned by a distinct source of power, to-wit: spring 17, one end of which is attached to the pawl support, and the other end of which is anchored to afixed member 28.

Actuating arm 15 is controlled by connecting rod 18 which is pivotally connected to crank 19, which crank is rotated by shaft 20.

Gate 7 is normally held by an extended weight 21 in an oblique position shown in Fig. 3, so that the gate functions as a battle and slideway for merchandise passing through chute 5. It will be noted that when there is sufficient weight on gate 7 to move weight 21 upward, the gate will radially swing toward a. vertical position, and when the merchandise on the gate is lessened, the gate will swing to an oblique position. This movement of the gate governs the tuning of the revolutions of roller 8, and the feeding of the merchandise from the source of so ply as follows:

awl support 11 has pivoted thereto a depending rod 22 which has a vertical movement down and up with the radial move ment of the pawl support. To rod is pivoted lever 27 extending horizontally and pivoted at the outer end by a rod 280 to brackets 28 and 281. At the opposite end of lever 27 is a pivoted dog 25 adapted by a spring 29 to he held so as to lengthen the assembled dog 25 and lever 27. If the dog is forced to a position against the spring 2E) the assembled lever and dog is shortened. On gate 7 is attached a stop 26. By swinging the gate to an oblique position stop 26 is removed from engagement with dog 25. By swinging the gate toward the vertical. position, dog 25 will he engaged by stop 26. The adjustment of the weight 21 on sup porting rod 211 is such that when 1 11821161- chandise at the discharge opening 31 is too large or cougesteth the weight of the merchandise on the gate overbalances weight 21, the gate swings toward the vertical, catch 26 engages dog 25, and when pawl support 11 is in an upward position it is held in that position so that the pawl is inactive and the rotation of roller 8 and the feeding of the merchandise from the hopper into the chute stops. In this position the driving arm 15 runs idle. When the congestion near the discharge end is relievelhweight 21 functions to swing the gate to the oblique po sition, dog 25 and stop 26 disengage and roller 8 functions to rotate and to feed additional merchandise into chute 5 as hcreinbefore described. Instead of weight- 21, the well known spring equivalent can be substituted to hold the gate normally in the path of the moving merchandise.

It is also noted that some kinds of merchandise will flow freely from the hopper throu h opening 32 on the slantiinr periphcry 0? the roller when constructed as shown in Fig. 1. This objection can be overcome by placing the hopper and the roller in such relation with each other that the hopper outlet is positioned near the topniu 17 i? line of travel of the roller or at a position in which the direction of the travel of the periphery is going up. This form is shown 1n Big. 2. In this figure the modified position of the hopper is shown as 40, the outlet from the hopper as 41, and an arrow 32 indicates the direction of the rotation of roller 8.

. The same principle can be applied to an elevator feeding merchandise into a chute shown in Fig. 4. In this device an endless belt 50 carries a plurality ol buckets or scoops 51 which are positioned so that when the contents of the bucket are spilled, they are deposited into a chute 53. The belt or draper is carried and moved by pulley 54. Pulley 5a is rotated intermittently by means of ratchet 9, a pawl 12 carried on pawl arm 11, which arm is moved when in engagement with the ratchet by a spring 17, or its equivalent, and the pawl is reset by independent power consisting of a crank 19 rotated on shaft 20, and by means of connecting arm 1% the rocking movement of the actuating arm 15 is had. A pawl spring 59 keeps the pawl in normal engagement with ratchet 1). Paw] arm 11 carries a depending rod which passes through a guide hold 46 in bracket 13. Bracket 43 is supported by the wall of chute 53. A support H is held under bracket 13 and may be made integral therewith. It has ahole 45 therethrough registering with hole 4.6, through which rod .18 can pass as it moves downward. To gate 7 is attached an upward extension 4-8 to which is pivoted a slide 47, which slide has a hole. 59 therein, said hole 59 registering with hole 415 when the gate 7 is swung to partially close the discharge opening when the weighl on the gate is within a pretlcternlincd weight. \Vhen the gate 7 is swung to a vertical position, which occurs when an overweight is sliding over the gate, the outside end 47 of slide -17 will engage rod 58. hold ing it in an upward position, and will hold pawl arm so that the pawl inoperative. which in turn stops roller 54- carrying belt 50, thus stopping the feeding of meridiandise at the source of supply.

A Form shown in Figs. 5. 6 and 7 uses the same principle in connection with a sliding door which is moved intermittently to an open and to a. clo ed position by means of an arm (31. Arm 61 is pivoted at one end by pivot 69 in a position so that it can rock radially on a vertical plane. At the end of the arm opposite the pivot 69 is a catch 68 pivoted between the ends to arm (31. On one end of catch 68 is a hook 67. A depending rod 58 pivoted to catch 68 at the end op posits book 67. An actuating lever 65 is pivoted on a cmnmon center line of pivot 9 and is positioned so that it can be rocked 1a dially within the same vertical pl one as arm 61. At one end of the actuating lever is a. book 66 which is positioned and adapted to be engaged by hook 67. hen the hooks 66 ltl llll

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and 67 are engaged, the arm61 and the lever" 65 move= synchronously. When said hooks ward; The lever 65 is actuated by a crank 19 connected with connecting arm 18. Slide ing'gate 60 is connected by link 18f to arm- 61 so that when the arm: 61 rocks,gate 60 is moved up and down, which movement enlarges and diminishes or closes the opening 62. By thus opening and closing gate 60 in hopper 70,there is an intermittent discharge:

of merchandise trom the hopper to the chute 5.? In the: discharge end 56 of chute: 5 is pivoted a gate 7 which is adapted to be pivotally moved so that it can obstruct or close the passage ofmerchandise through the chute. By means of a weight 21 on a rod 211, which is attached to door 7, the normal position of the door within the discharge end 56 of the chute is to partially close the opening in said chute. The wall of chute 5 has a bracket 46 extendin outwardly therefrom, having a hole 43 aigned with rod 58 so that said rod can pass therethrough when the arm 61 is in motion. An auxiliary bracket 44 is placed under the bracket 46 and has a hole 45 which can reg ister with holes 59 and 45 when slide 47 is in a predetermined position. Door 7 has an upwardly extending arm 48 to which is pivoted a slide 47 which rests on the top of bracket 44. As the door 7 moves radially on its pivot, slide 47 will move so that at times the hole 59 therein will register with hole 45, and at other times they will not register. The length of the rod 58 is such that when it reaches its upward limit of travel it is engaged in guide hole 43 but disengaged with holes 59 and 45. When thus disengaged, if the weight on door 7 is over a predetermined amount, slide 47 will automatically move to a position which will stop the downward movement of rod 58, which will in turn trip catch 68 and disengage the hook 67 from hook 66, thus permitting the arm 65 to rock on its pivot without actuating the arm 61. When the weight on door 7 is reduced so that it swings sufficiently to pull slide 47 so hole 59 will register with hole 45, the weight of rod 58 will cause hooks 66 and 67 to reengage and the movement of lever 65 will again function to intermittently open and close gate 60.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. A feed control. mechanism-consisting of a chute, means for intermittently depositing merchandise into said chute, a baffle at the discharge end of the chute positioned so that the merchandise passing through the chute will pass over the baffle, said bafile being adapted to be moved in one direction when an overload is passing over said bafile, and to be moved in the opposite direction when said overweight is lessened, the means for intermittently depositing" merchandise into the chute. beinga'ctuated by a ratchet and pawl, separate sources of power for engaging the pawl with the ratchet, and for moving the pawl when engaged with the ratchet, means for holding the pawl in an inoperative position controlled by the movenient of the baflie when an overweight is thereon, and means for restoring OPGI'iLlDlVE ness'oi the pawl by the movement of the battle when the overweight is-lessened to a predetermined weight.

QQFeed control mechanism operable in connection with a chute consisting of means for intermittently feeding merchandise intothe chute, said feeding means being controlled by a ratchet and pawl, a gate hinged at the discharge opening of the chute yieldingly held as a battle for the merchandise passing through the chute, said bafli'e being adapted to move one direction when the I weight thereon is greater than a predetermined amount, and to move in the opposite direction when the weight thereon is lessened, means controlled by the movement of the battle adapted to hold the pawl in an inoperative position when an overload of merchandise is passing over said battle, and to release the pawl to active relation when the weight passing over the baiiie is less than a predetermined amount, means for actuating the pawl on the weight stroke andcseparate means for actuating the pawl on the engaging stroke.

3. A feed control mechanism operable in connection with a chute consisting of means for intermittently feeding merchandise into the chute, said feeding means being actuated by a ratchet and pawl, a gate hinged at the discharge opening of the chute yieldingly held as a battle for merchandise pass ing through the discharge opening, said baille being adapted to move one direction when the weight thereon is over a predetermined amount, and to move in the opposite direction when the weight thereon is lessened, means controlled by the movement of the bafiie adapted to hold the pawl in an inoperative position when an overload is passing over said baiile, and to release the pawl to normal active relation when the weight passing over the bafiie does not exceed the predetermined amount, and means for actuating the pawl.

4. A feed control mechanism consisting of a chute, a roller adapted to carry merchandise on its periphery and deposit it into the chute, ratchet and pawl means for rotating the roller, means for positioning the pawl on the engaging stroke, separate means for actuating the pawl on the working stroke, a baffle in the path of the flowin merchandise within the chute, said bafile being hinged and yieldingly held in a normal predetermined position within the chute when a predetermined Weight is on said halite, said battle being adapted to move in one direetion when a Weight greater than a predetermined amount is passing over the battle, and to return to said normal position when the weight passing over the bafile is lessened to approximately said predetermined weight, and means connected with said baflle :ulapted to hold said pawl in an inoperative position when the baflie is positioned by an overload passing thereover, and to release said pawl to operativeness when the battle is returned to its normal position.

5. In a device of the character described the eoi'l'ibination of a chute having an intake opening and a discharge opening, means for feeding merchandise intermittent-1y into the chute throughthe intake opening, a bafiie positioned in the discharge opening in the path of the merchandise passing through the chute, said baiiie being pivotally attached and balanced to maintain a predetermined position when a predetermined weight is thereon, and to vary said position when the weight is increased or decreased, blocking means for making temporarily inoperative the means for intermittently feeding the merchandise into the chute, said blockin means being controlled by the movement 0 the bafiie, said means for intermittently feeding the merchandise into the chute being free to function when the baflle has been relieved of the Weight in excess of the predetermined weight.

DAVID W. RIPLEY. 

